The door reopened with the velocity of a hurricane, revealing Angelica with her white hair standing on the ends as if she'd been struck by lightning. "What did you just say, pumpkin head?"

Everett took an unsteady step back with his wand drawn. "You heard me. Why else would you attack us so suddenly?"

"Rowena sent you?" Angelica frowned. "A vampire and young wizard? That woman was always peculiar, but this is beyond anything I could imagine. Jeez, why didn't you just say so in the first place?"

"You hexed me before I could!" Everett exclaimed.

"What was I to think when you showed up with that wicked man?" She pointed a bony finger Kieran's way, locking suspicious eyes with him.

"Apologies for the scare." Kieran bowed his head. "I'm a detective," he fibbed. "Working alongside a local so I don't frighten you nice folks. I know you don't get my kind around here often."

Angelica folded her arms across her bosom. "Pray tell, what's a vampire doing, investigating her murder? This is out of your jurisdiction."

"Actually, her death is connected with her husband's, who was allegedly murdered by a vampire," Everett replied.

"Allegedly?" Angelica raised a skeptical brow.

"Well, new evidence has shown us that he was poisoned. We believe that Rowena also might've died the same way."

"Why didn't anyone rule her death as murder before?" Angelica squinted her eyes, narrowing them with suspicion. "I really don't understand why you'd need to come tell me about it. Rowena's been dead for a few years now, Gods rest her soul, so why do you need to keep digging into things?"

"Well, her ghost has been pestering me this past year to find her killer and I'm finally getting somewhere."

"Her ghost?" Angelica frowned. "Oh, right. You run the library downtown, don't you? You're Isidora Pepperheart's son."

"Could you maybe change his head back to normal?" Kieran asked, intervening. "It's just so uncanny to look at."

"Oh, of course!" Angelica retrieved her wand, shaking her head. "Silly me, I'd almost forgotten."

How the hell could she have forgotten about that?

The most agonizing headache struck him, but Everett held his resolve, clenching down on his teeth. Orange peeled away, bits of pumpkin guts spilled across the sidewalk as Everett's head emerged from the dissolving magical pumpkin. The seeds around him faded, but the painful drilling into his skull didn't abate.

Everett rubbed at his throbbing temple. "We wanted to see what you remembered the days leading up to Rowena dying. Was she feeling ill lately? Eat or drink anything that tasted weird?"

Angelica took a moment to think about it. "The last I saw her was a day before she died. We'd celebrated my granddaughter's sixth birthday at the park. Rowena seemed right as rain that day. Even played some games with the kids. She ate a lot of cake, much like the rest of us."

"She seemed perfectly fine that day?" Kieran questioned. "And that didn't make you suspicious?"

"No, it's not unheard of for wizards' magic to mimic a heart attack and actually kill them. Happened to a distant relative of ours."

Everett held up a hand. "Hold on, I thought Rowena's death was from natural causes. This makes no sense if she was healthy."

"It was. Wizards with unruly black magic inside them tend to die sooner than others. Once you've dabbled in that devilish crap, there's no going back. Even when it's contained, it can still find a way to slip through and kill them. You ought to know that, Everett. You have yours contained in an amulet just like Rowena's." She gestured to his neck.

"What?" Everett lifted the crimson gem, eyeing it with newfound curiosity. "This was passed down to me. It belonged to my grandmother. Is it possible that her magic's still trapped inside?"

Angelica took a step closer, examining the amulet. "Maybe? I don't know how much of that magic containment crap works. I just know we did it with Rowena after she cast that death curse so long ago."

"Death curse?" Everett gasped.

"You didn't know?" Angelica asked softly. "I suppose I understand why she'd keep that a secret. She cast it in self-defense against an ex mage she dated. Guy was all kinds of crazy, insisting they ought to marry because they were lovers in a past life. It freaked her out. He stalked her, then came at her in the middle of the night when she was walking home. Rowena swore he wanted to hurt her when he drew his wand."

"I never knew casting a death curse could do that to someone." Everett shook his head. "I've heard of wizards losing control if they cast multiple death curses, but a single one can cause that damage?"

"It happens when someone young casts one. Their magic is just developing at that stage, and when they tap into the darker arts, they're not prepared for the power it unleashes."

"Rowena never mentioned anything about that. Actually, she doesn't recall where she got the amulet," Everett pointed out.

"Strange. Rowena knows all about the power in her amulet. Perhaps she just didn't wish to tell you?" Angelica suggested. "My sister loved keeping secrets."

"Could it have killed her?" Everett's voice caught in his throat. "The amulet?"

"I don't really know. The Supernatural Council keeps these things as discrete as they can." Angelica gazed around her yard, as if expecting someone to apparate before them. "You should ask your mother about it. I can't remember who gave Rowena the amulet back then, but it wasn't anyone in our family."

Everett nodded. "Thank you for your time. Sorry for bothering you like this."

"Be careful nosing around. Someone might do more harm than hexing you into a pumpkin." She wagged a scolding finger at him before turning to head back inside her house, locking the door behind her.

"That was peculiar," Everett muttered.

"Indeed, but are you alright?" Kieran rested a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Of course." Everett reached for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "But it has me wondering about the origins of these amulets. I remember reading about how items like this could be imbued with black magic, and I think that's exactly what's in mine and Rowena's."

"Is it safe to wear it?" Kieran frowned.

"I'm not sure." Everett fiddled with the chain. "I do wonder who's black magic resides in mine. Perhaps my grandmother's? Can it even be used if she's dead?"

Kieran shrugged. "You wizards and your magic aren't in my realm of expertise."

Everett stuffed his hands in his robe's pockets as they walked down the sidewalk. "What if Rowena unleashed the black magic contained in her amulet? What if that's what killed her in the end? Is it possible it could have wiped her final memories before dying? She might've used it as a last defense to protect herself from something."

"You think someone came to kill her and she tried to fight back, but the magic killed her?" Skepticism crossed Kieran's face. "I suppose it's possible. Your magic is nestled up in your brain, right?"

"Yes. However, you can imbue it into items like this amulet." Everett held the glittery red gem up toward the sunlight. "We'll need to cross paths for now, because I need to ask my mother about this. She might even be able to shed some light on Rowena's situation."

Kieran smirked. "I understand. Promise me you'll also rest during this time. You've been up for a long time."

"I'm fine." Everett waved a dismissive hand.

Once he reached his house, Everett mustered all the magic within him to quietly sneak inside. He barely made it inside the foyer when his mother emerged from the kitchen.

"Where in the heavens have you been?" Mrs. Pepperheard demanded.

Everett awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "Out with a friend. Sorry for worrying you."

"Your father spotted you downtown on his way to work this morning. He sent me a letter by courier crow immediately that you were with a vampire. Is this true?" she asked.

Everett wished he had the ghostly abilities to dissolve into the walls. Both his sisters peeked around the corner of the living room, listening with curious ears.

"Yes, it's true, mother. Kieran is a vampire and my friend."

"Goodness gracious." Mrs. Pepperheart pinched the bridge of her nose. "You can't fraternize with their kind. Do you know what people will say? What your father will do? You are part of a respectable family."

"I can befriend whoever I want." Everett groaned. "And before you get all holier than thou, let me ask you about the origins of this amulet." He unclasped it from his neck, tossing it her way. "Why's it filled with black magic?"

Color drained from his mother's rigid complexion. A strangled laugh escaped her lips, yet it didn't conceal her nervous jaw tick. "Don't be ridiculous. Did that vampire tell you that? He's full of it, you hear me? This is an important family heirloom that I passed down to you for safekeeping."

"Then you hold on to it. Give it to Mattie or Avery." Everett gestured behind him. "I don't want it anymore. I'm pretty sure it's cursed."

"This is about that dead woman who haunts the library, isn't it?" Mrs. Pepperheart asked, sighing. "Everett, she's not right in the head, honey. You know how dangerous it is to let spirits attach to you. She's helping fill your head with nonsense. This amulet belongs to you now. It's meant to keep you protected."

"Sure, mother. If you say so. Just hold on to it for now. I'm too tired for this right now." Everett spun around, heading for his room.

"Please, don't do anything reckless." Mrs. Pepperheart's desperate plea went unheard.

In his room, Everett collapsed onto the bed, willing his pounding headache to fade away so he could sleep. Weariness tugged at his heavy eyelids. Theories swarmed his mind like buzzing flies as he tried piecing together what history lied within those amulets. Rowena's black magic was sealed up after a death curse she performed, and he considered the possibility that she unleashed it to save herself but it failed. After being contained for so long, did it just kill her?

Everett eventually succumbed to slumber, dreaming of a devilish vampire who had every intention of sampling more than just his blood. Effects of his venom wearing off, probably. However, when the lustful trance shattered and he awakened in his bed, bedraggled, he found that damned amulet around his neck again.

The work of his devious sisters, no doubt. Everett huffed in annoyance as he climbed out of bed, trying to smooth out the wrinkles in his outfit. He'd been so dogtired, he couldn't even bother changing into pajamas. He gently brushed the pad of his finger along the visible pinpricks on his neck, wincing at the thought of his family noticing them.

At least he was well rested enough to face his father, who surely had to be home. Everett took his time ambling down the hallway, not wanting to face the wrath of his embarrassed father or hear more of his mother's lectures. When he finally reached the kitchen, dark brown hair drew his attention from the man perched at the dining table with his back facing him.

"We need to have a talk, Everett." Father's stentorian voice carried over to him.

"What about?" Everett feigned ignorance as he took a seat across from him.

"Are you under his influence?"

Everett frowned. "Huh?"

"The vampire's. Your mother noticed bite marks on your neck."

A blush crept up Everett's face. "Um, those are just some bug bites. She misunderstood."

"I really couldn't care less if you're letting a vampire fuck you. Just keep it away from our house and out of the public's eye. You can't parade your fucktoy around for anyone to see. Do you know how bad that'll look on us?" Father asked.

Everett sucked on his teeth, rage bubbling in his chest. "Kieran's just helping me with Rowena's case, that's all."

"Gods, is this just some kind of fetish you have for the dead? I thought you'd put an end to this once you reached adulthood."

Everett was taken aback by his harsh response. Nerves squirmed in the pit of his stomach like worms. He clasped his shaky hands together in his lap, hidden underneath the table. Why would he say such a horrible thing? Their family's image was always more important to him. That's why he favored his sisters over him.

"Just go back to whatever you were doing." Mr. Pepperheart waved him off. "Remember what I said about keeping your filthy bloodsucker away from prying eyes. If I catch you both out like that again, I'll have him beheaded."

"Don't worry about me." Everett rose from the table, nearly knocking his chair over behind him. "I won't contact Kieran ever again, so you can stay away from him."

Rage swarmed him as he stormed out of his house, not even bothering to spare his sisters a glance or explanation. Avery and Mattie called out to him, but he disregarded them. Everett wouldn't want their images tarnished for his doltish behavior. His folks always chastised him for everything, wanting him to remain a pure angel in the townsfolks eyes.  He made his way down the sidewalk. Tears strung at the corners of his tired eyes, but he fiercely wiped them away. What was so wrong with his unique connection with the spirits? He'd rather hang around them more than the judgmental living folks in their town anyday.

As he neared his library, the only thing on Everett's mind was finding a way to contact Kieran. He needed to see him again.